Kline helps craft GOP alternative to Obama's health care law

Minnesota congressman John Kline is offering scant details on Republican plans to craft an alternative to President Obama’s health care law.

Kline met privately on Friday with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and fellow Republican Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and Dave Camp of Michigan on Friday to begin gathering the party’s best ideas.

The session didn't produce legislation, but Cantor has pledged to introduce a bill this year that would replace the Affordable Care Act and not just repeal it.

To that end, he’s drafted top committee chairs – Kline on Education and the Workforce, Ryan on Budget and Camp on Ways and Means – to build support on their respective panels and find consensus among the party with the help of McMorris Rodgers, who chairs the Republican Conference.

“The American people deserve positive health care solutions and that’s what we intend to deliver,” said Kline spokesman Troy Young. “Congressman Kline is pleased with the meeting and expects this to be the first of many, but it would be premature to address any specific ideas that were discussed today.”

House Republicans, including Kline, have voted more than 50 times to repeal, defund or alter the Affordable Care Act, but thus far been unable to unify around a credible alternative. But the Democratic-led Senate has slammed the brakes on their plans.

Now, months ahead of the 2014 elections, the GOP wants to show what it will do to reform the nation’s health care system, not simply what it opposes.

With an insider’s eye, Hot Dish tracks the tastiest bits of Minnesota’s political scene and keep you up-to-date on those elected to serve you.